[R.O. 2011 §73.010; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.010), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1753 §1(73.010.4), 3-1-1993; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004]
As used in this Chapter, the following terms mean:
ANIMAL
Every living vertebrate except a human being.
ATTACK
Aggressive behavior by a dog or cat that involves biting or repeatedly biting or shaking its victim.
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
BITE
Any abrasion or laceration caused by a cat or dog's teeth, sufficient to break the skin.
CABLE RUN
A metal cable that is mounted aboveground at a designated height to two (2) stationary objects for the purpose of attaching a pulley system that moves from one end of the cable to the other and to which a dog is tied or secured by means of a rope, chain, or cable attached to the dog's collar or harness.
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
DIRECT POINT CHAINING
Means attaching a dog directly to a stationary object by means of a leash, rope, chain, cable or other material attached to the dog's collar or harness but does not include temporary restraint of a dog for purposes of vehicular transport.
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
ELECTRONIC CONTAINMENT DEVICE
A transmitter/receiver system for the confinement of dogs which consists of:
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
1. 
A boundary wire that emits a radio signal, and
2. 
A battery operated electronic device on the dog's collar which receives the radio signal and emits an audible warning beep and a corrective electrical stimulus as the dog approaches the wire.
HUMANE OFFICER
Any person designated by the City of Savannah as a Law Enforcement Officer or as a special officer to enforce the provisions of this Chapter.
INOCULATION
The inoculation of a cat or dog with a vaccine approved by the Department of Agriculture and/or the Division of Health of the State administered by a licensed veterinarian. A certificate of vaccination shall be considered "valid" if it is dated within the calendar year of registration.
KENNEL
Any person, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of buying, selling or boarding of dogs and cats.
OWN OR OWNER
In addition to its ordinary meaning, any person who keeps or harbors an animal or professes to be owning, keeping, or harboring an animal.
PROVOCATION
Causing a bite or attack by:
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
1. 
Any intentional act of pulling, pinching, squeezing, kicking, hitting or striking the dog with an object or a part of a person's body, unless the person is responding to an attack or an immediate threat of attack by the dog as indicated by the dog's lunging, snarling or baring of its teeth;
2. 
Any attempt or threat to kick, hit or strike the dog with an object or part of a person's body, unless the person is responding to an attack or an immediate threat of attack by the dog as indicated by the dog's lunging, snarling, or baring of its teeth;
3. 
Any act of teasing or tormenting the dog;
4. 
Any act of holding, kicking, hitting, striking, or otherwise physically harming the dog's owner or other member of the dog owner's household;
5. 
Entry into the dog's area of confinement without the owner's presence, provided that this definition does not apply if the dog is confined in a particular manner for the purpose of causing provocation to prevent legal access to the premises in violation of this Chapter; or
6. 
Any act of breaking and entering, or other unlawful entry, into the dog owner's residence, vehicle, or other property.
RESTRAINT
An animal shall be deemed to be under restraint if on the premises of its owner or if accompanied by a responsible person and under that person's control.
SWIVEL
Pivoting hardware that can be used in a trolley system to attach a cable run to a tether or a tether to a dog's collar or harness in order to minimize twisting and tangling of the tether.
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
TETHER
A rope, chain, or cable that is attached to a dog's collar or harness for purposes of restraining the dog.
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
TROLLEY SYSTEM
A method of restraining a dog which utilizes a cable run, swivel and tether attached to a dog's collar or harness.
[Ord. No. 2729, 7-10-2017]
VETERINARY
Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.
VICIOUS CAT OR DOG
Any cat or dog of cross, ferocious or dangerous disposition or which habitually snaps or manifests a disposition to bite any person or other animal.
[R.O. 2011 §73.020; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.020), 6-23-1987; Ord No. 1953 §1(73.020), 2-16-99; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004]
No person shall, without first obtaining a permit thereof in writing from City Hall, own, keep, harbor or have custody of any cat or dog over six (6) months of age, except that this Section shall not apply to the keeping of small cage birds or aquatic and amphibian animals solely as pets.
[R.O. 2011 §73.030; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.030), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1753 §1(73.030), 3-1-1993; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.030), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004]
No cat or dog permit or registration shall be issued for any cat or dog unless a valid certificate of vaccination by a licensed veterinarian is presented with the application. The said certificate shall show the date of inoculation, which shall be within the calendar year, the type of vaccination, the vaccination tag number, the veterinarian's name, the sex, breed and color of the cat or dog, and the owner's name and address.
[R.O. 2011 §73.040; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.040), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.040), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004; Ord. No. 2692 §3, 4-4-2016]
The annual fee for each cat or dog registered hereunder shall be the sum of five dollars ($5.00). The same shall be effective one (1) whole year from January first. Such registration shall be renewed annually on or before the first day of January.
[R.O. 2011 §73.045; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004]
No person or the occupants of a dwelling unit shall possess or keep more than four (4) dogs over the age of six (6) months or four (4) cats over the age of six (6) months within the City without a permit to operate a kennel.
[R.O. 2011 §73.046; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004]
Any place or tract of land whether indoors or outdoors, whether enclosed or not, in, at, or upon which, and whether for pleasure or for profit, dogs or cats are kept, housed, bred, raised, fed, displayed, exhibited or sold. The owner of four (4) or more cats or dogs, whether owned for pleasure or for profit, breeding or exhibiting, shall be deemed to be the operator of a cat or dog kennel.
[R.O. 2011 §73.050; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.050), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.050), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004]
The City shall deliver to every person who registers any cat or dog a certificate stating that such person has registered same, and containing the registration tag number and the vaccination tag number, and shall deliver to every such person a metal tag containing the registration number and expiration date. The license tag or plate shall be securely fastened to a collar or a harness of the cat or dog and worn at all times.
[R.O. 2011 §73.060; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.060), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.060), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1, 3-15-2004]
No person shall permit any cat or dog to be at large in the City of Savannah at any time. Cats or dogs are at large when the animal is in any public street, alley, park, or other public grounds, or when off the premises of the owner or person who has custody of said cat or dog, and not constrained by a leash or under the immediate control of the owner of the person who has custody of the said cat or dog.
[R.O. 2011 §73.070; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.070), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.070), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1(73.070), 3-15-2004]
Unrestrained cats or dogs at large may be taken by Police or any Humane Officer and impounded in the animal shelter, and there confined in a humane manner. Impounded cats or dogs shall be kept for not less than five (5) working days unless reclaimed by their owners. If by a permit tag or other means the owner can be identified, the Police shall immediately notify the owner upon impoundment of the animal. Cats or dogs not claimed within five (5) working days shall be humanely disposed of by the person or agency delegated by the Mayor to exercise that authority.
[R.O. 2011 §73.080; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.080), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.080), 2-16-1999]
An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay a fee of five dollars ($5.00) per day service charge, and shall comply with the provisions of Sections 205.020, 205.030 and 205.040.
[R.O. 2011 §73.090; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.090), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.090), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1(73.090), 3-15-2004]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner to fail to exercise proper care and control of his/her animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. Excessive, continuous or untimely barking, molesting passerby, chasing vehicles, habitually attacking other animals, trespassing upon private property in such a manner to damage property shall be deemed a nuisance. Nor shall any cat or dog of vicious nature or disposition be allowed to attack or bite any person or animal or cause annoyance to the neighborhood or persons using the public street, or chase or molest livestock, other cats or dogs or children, or cause any damage or injury. Any cat or dog exhibiting any such tendency or tendencies shall be confined on chains, tethers or leashes of such length that the cat or dog shall be securely confined upon the premises within a pen or other enclosure. Notice of premises where it shall be confined.
1. 
In addition to other penalties prescribed by this Chapter, if upon violation and conviction of the provisions of this Section relating to vicious cats or dogs it shall appear to the judge of the Municipal Court that it is necessary for the public safety and welfare that the cat or dog concerned be euthanized, the judge shall so order and the Chief of Police shall see that the order of the court is carried out.
[R.O. 2011 §73.095; Ord. No. 2189 §1(73.095), 3-15-2004]
The owners of animals within the City shall be responsible for any damages caused by such animal to any person or property.
[R.O. 2011 §73.100; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.100), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.100), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1(73.100), 3-15-2004]
Any animal, which bites a person, shall be quarantined for ten (10) days if ordered by the Chief of Police or Mayor. During the quarantine the animal shall be securely confined and kept from contact with any other animal. At the discretion of the Chief of Police or Mayor the quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, the owners, or an approved veterinary hospital or boarding facility. If the Chief of Police or Mayor requires other confinement away from the owner's premises, the owner shall surrender the animal for the period to the custody of the Chief of Police or shall, at his/her own expense, place it in a veterinary hospital of his/her choice. If said cat or dog is well and healthy at the end of the ten (10) day period, a person claiming ownership may claim it on payment by said owner of the fees charged by the licensed veterinarian unless the cat or dog is a nuisance under Section 205.110. Should such cat or dog confined in a veterinary hospital become ill, or die during confinement, the veterinarian shall notify the Department of Public Health and Welfare immediately.
[R.O. 2011 §73.110; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.110), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.110), 2-16-1999]
Any person who shall interfere with, molest, hinder or prevent the public impounder or police official from the discharge of his/her duties as prescribed in this Chapter shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation, punishable as provided in this Code.
[R.O. 2011 §73.120; Ord. No. 1545 §1(73.120), 6-23-1987; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.120), 2-16-1999]
Any person who is found guilty of a violation of this Chapter or any provision hereof shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation and upon conviction thereof shall be punished in accordance with Section 100.220 of the Savannah City Code.
[R.O. 2011 §§73.130 — 73.131; Ord. No. 1738 §§1 — 2, 10-5-1992; Ord. No. 1953 §1(73.130 — 73.131), 2-16-1999; Ord. No. 2189 §1(73.130 — 73.131), 3-15-2004]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit a cat or dog to be on the property, public or private, not owned or possessed by such person unless such person has in his/her immediate possession an appropriate device for scooping excrement and an appropriate depository for the transmission of excrement to a receptacle located on property owned or possessed by such person. It shall be a violation for any person who causes or permits a cat or dog to be on the property, public or private, not owned or possessed by such person, unless such person removes the excrement from said property. This Section shall apply to a person who is visually or physically handicapped.
B. 
Any person found guilty of violating Section 205.160 of this Chapter shall be fined:
1. 
Not less that five dollars ($5.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first (1st) offense;
2. 
Not less that fifteen dollars ($15.00) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300.00) for the second (2nd) and any subsequent offense.